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Alleged D.C. National Guard shooter could face death penalty as DOJ adds new charges
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Federal prosecutors filed eight additional charges against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, including murder of a person assisting a U.S. officer and discharge of a firearm causing death, both eligible for the death penalty.
- A federal grand jury found that Lakanwal intentionally killed Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and attempted to kill multiple people, meeting criteria for prosecutors to seek the death penalty.
- The Justice Department's Capital Case Committee will review whether to pursue the death penalty in Lakanwal's case, who pleaded not guilty to all charges.
- Lakanwal, an Afghan national paroled into the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome, is accused of ambushing and killing Beckstrom and critically wounding Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe near the White House in November.
- Beckstrom and Wolfe were West Virginia National Guard members deployed in D.C. as part of an anti-crime operation; Lakanwal also faces multiple federal and D.C. charges related to the attack.
